Abstract

In May 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon began releasing oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Before the leak was stopped, it released over 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf. This oil eventually made its way to the Gulf Coast where it affected, and continues to affect, the vegetation. The effect of this oil on the onshore and nearshore vegetation was not well studied before this spill because there were not many oil spills of this magnitude. This research focuses on the effects of the oil on the drag coefficient of the plants and the subsequent change in storm surge due from tropical storms and hurricanes. The experiments were conducted in a flume using plastic plants in place of real plants and using vaseline to simulate the oil. The results showed an increase in the drag coefficient up to a certain velocity after being coated with the vaseline. The storm surge also increased during the different trials. Many of the plants that get coated in oil along the Gulf Coast die, which leads to increased erosion of the shoreline. Because the plants absorb much of the energy of tropical storms and hurricanes, the death of large numbers of plants could lead to an increase in storm surge during storms and a subsequent increase in damage to human infrastructure. 

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